New programme of antenatal care in general practice.

The conclusions from recent analyses of the clinical worth of routine antenatal attendances have been used in the setting of a modern primary health care team. As a result the number of times a low risk nulliparous woman is seen by her general practitioner has been reduced from 15 to eight and a low risk multiparous woman from 15 to six. The number of consultations with a midwife has also been considerably reduced. The time saved is used in longer, more structured consultations and for more intensive care of high risk, usually socially deprived, women. Despite these reductions in consultations organised, well recorded care of this type renders antenatal attendances at a hospital virtually unnecessary for low risk women.